SIAD is a global awareness day, and yet it is not supported by any nations' governments, because it is a grass-roots idea.

Somehow, in the mists of time, the date was set as the 1st of March, and organisations around the world make extra efforts to raise awareness ready for SIAD.

Just posting this to spread the word a bit, I know there seems to be a "day" for every issue nowadays, but self-harm is a massive problem that is usually just swept under the carpet. Don't be surprised if you don't read/hear about this day elsewhere as it's deemed socially unacceptable and just ignored very often.

As with all these days, what's asked is that you show your awareness or support by wearing a particular colour. This one's orange, for some reason. There are beads on sale to show various things:

Written by:

Plain Orange - Self Harm (Awareness)

Orange with 1 white - Trying to stop Self Harm

Orange and White - Recovered Self Harmer

For more info or support go to: http://www.recoveryourlife.com.To give you some idea of how common this problem is, in the 5 months this single website's been up it's had over 50 million hits.

Whilst I realise this may make people uncomfortable, I'm sure many are not aware of this behaviour, its causes and the help that's available (and still needs a good deal more support). It's shocking how common this is, and how it's not reached the popular cosciousness in any way other than a belittling "it's just a phase" mentality. So please read up on it if you can, and support the day by helping to raise awareness.

Thanks.

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.Thoreau

Posted:23rd Feb 2005Oooh, I forgot about that! Still have to make a bracelet (orange and white, whoo!) I have a lot of friends affected seriously by SI. I think it's a bigger deal than people think it to be...

Posted:23rd Feb 2005well been doing this for years and didn't know there was a day for it, but shall spread the word. errr don't know which bracelet would be appropiate, for me but its nice to see people making an effort. although i do despise these so called days for something or another with matching colour anyway

Posted:23rd Feb 2005I know what you mean about "days".. that was my initial response, shouldn't people be thinking about these things more than just one day a year?

But at the same time it's such an undiscussed, un-thought-about issue that I think anything that can be done to promote a greater awareness of it (even if it is just a concerted effort on a single day) it's gotta be worthwhile.

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.Thoreau

Posted:23rd Feb 2005Someone close to me and a few friends have been affected by this and I'll let them know about this day because I don't think they do. Self Injury can be a very hard thing to overcome and what makes it even more hard is that most people who don't do it don't understand why people do it.

Not to make light of this but when I was a kid we always celebrated March 1st as International Pig Day in my elementary school. I don't know if this was just local or if they got it from somewhere.